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Book 



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TTISTORIC SKETCH 
n WITH VIEWS OF 
COVENTRY, CONNECTICUT 




STATUE TO NATHAN HALE IN 
CITY HALL PARK, NEW YORK 



OFFICIAL PROGRAM 

OLD HOME WEEK 
BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 

1712-1912 











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MAP PHOTOGRAPHED FROM THE TOWN RECORDS, SHOWING 

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t E S GfT E E E T S F l.- T J OSHcl^ > w? L 1 J 08 ' PREPARAT °^ TO THE DRAWING OF ALLOTMENTS 



/ 

HISTORIC SKETCH 

OF 

COVENTRY, CONNECTICUT 

PREPARED BY 

MAUDE GRIDEEY PETERSON 



ON THE OCCASION OF THE TWO HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY 
OF THE INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN AND OF THE OR- 
GANIZATION OF THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 



BICENTENNIAL POEM 

BY 

RUTH AMELIA HIGGINS 



OFFICIAL PROGRAM 

OLD HOME WEEK 

BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 

AUGUST 25-31, 1912 




JESSE ROOT. 

Photograph from t lie painting of Jesse Root by Wheeler, now in the State 
Library, Hartford. Jesse Root was born in Coventry December 28th, 
1736, was a member of the Second Continental Congress 1778-83, and 
Chief Justice of Connecticut 1796-1807. 



OCT 11 1912 



PREFACE 

On the occasion of the celebration of two hundred years of the 
existence of Coventry, Conn., it has seemed fitting to look back 
along the years and trace some of the steps in its development. 

An attempt has been made to sketch from the early colonial and 
town records and other sources an account of the beginnings of the 
town. The advance during that time of its institutions and its 
industrial life is traced. Its share in the affairs of colony and 
nation is briefly touched upon and abbreviated accounts of some 
of Coventry's prominent men are added. Circumstances have 
allowed the author but a week in which to classify and compile 
material for the pamphlet. An especial attempt for accuracy has 
been made, that the material may be of an authoritative nature. 
The limited time, however, makes many omissions of important 
matter probable. The accomplishment of the task allotted would 
have been impossible but for the helpful co-operation of my hus- 
band, Arthur Everett Peterson, and the valued assistance of many 
others. Dr. Wm. L. Higgins, President of the Town Committee, 
has been untiring in his aid. Mr. Curtis Dean, Secretary and His- 
torian, has shared with me valuable material. Mr. Addison Kings- 
bury contributed the list of present day manufacturers. Mr. and 
Mrs. Albert Woodworth have, from their extended memories of the 
older people and places, been most helpful. Among others who 
have contributed from their store of knowledge are various mem- 
bers of the Hilltop Home Club, Mr. and Mrs. John M. Wood, Mr. 
Patrick O'Brien, and Mr. Henry F. Parker. 

To the State Librarian in Hartford I would offer sincere thanks 
for every possible courtesy and help in the use of the valuable 
manuscripts and texts preserved there. During Old Home Week, 
and even later, the Librarian will have on exhibition in Memorial 
Hall at the State Library Building, manuscripts connected with the 
early days in Coventry. Any interested may inspect them there at 
will. Thanks are also due to the Connecticut Historical Librarian 
and to Frank D. Andrews of the Historical Library in Vineland, 
1ST. J., for further aid. The latter furnished the engraving for the 
print of Lorenzo Dow and the sketch of his life which accom- 
panies it. 

3 



HISTORIC SKETCH 

MAUDE GRIDLEY PETERSON 
Incorporation of Town of Coventry 




(Brand Mark) 

k CTOBEE 11. 1711, two hundred and one years 

ago, tliu legislative hody of the colony of Con- 
tieetieut incorporated and named the town of 
Coventry. In this act provision was also made 
for procuring and settling a minister of the gospel 
<£, in the hest way and as soon as possible. A brand 

mark, as above, was fixed as the distinguishing mark for Coventry 

horses. 

The Name Coventry 

Comparison of a map of England and one of New England 

shows an interesting similarity of names of places. "Coventry" is 
on both maps and we are surrounded by places bearing the names 
of those across the sea. Among those in the immediate locality are 
Andover, Bolton, Mansfield, Ashford, Canterbury, Hampton, Staf- 
ford. Enfield, Colchester. Woodstock, Norwich, and New London. 
The following act of the Connecticut Assembly, 1658, in con- 
nection with the naming of New London so well illustrates the cus- 
tom of early nomenclature that it is quoted here: 

"Whereas it hath been the commendable practice of the inhabi- 
tants of all the colonies of these parts, that as this country hath its 
denomination from our dear native country of England, and thence 
is called New England, so that planters, in their firsi settling of 
most new plantations, have given names to those plantations of 
some cities and towns in England, thereby intending to keep up, 
and leave to posterity the memorial of several places of note there. 
as Boston, Eartford, Windsor, York. Ipswich, Braintree, Exeter: 
this court considering, that there hath yet no place in any of the 
colonic-, been named in memory of the city of London, there being 
a new plantation within this jurisdiction of Connecticut, settled 
upon thai fair river Mohegan, in the Pequol country, being an ex- 
celled harbor and ;i tit and convenient place for future trade, it 
being also the only place which the English in these parts havi 
possessed by conquest, and that upon a very jusl war, upon thai 
greal and warlike people, the Pequots, that therefore they mighl 



thereby leave to posterity the memory of that renowned city of 
London, from whence we had our transportation, have thought fit, 
m honor to that famous city, to call the said plantation Xew 
London." 

The name of the river Mohegan was also changed to Thames. 

Old Coventry, founded it is said, in the eleventh century, is 
situated on an eminence in a valley, while to the south stretches a 
ridge of hills. From our own hilltops the bounding ridges of bills 
may be seen in all directions. It is thought that a similarity of 
landscape may have suggested the name for our town. An invita- 
tion from Coventry, New England, has gone over the Atlantic 
to Coventry, Old England, to participate in some way in the cele- 
bration which its namesake is enjoying at this time. 



Aboriginal Inhabitants 

The furrowing plow occasionally reveals traces of inhabitants 
previous to the time when the Coventry of now became Coventry. 
About Lake Wamgumbaug, along the banks of the Willimantic 
River, and sometimes in scattered places over the hills, the upturned 
Indian arrow-heads are mute witnesses of the one time presence 
of the red man. Tradition says that the Indians used the land 




A view of Lake Wamgumbaug, taken from Nathan Hale Cemetery. 

5 



hereabouts as a hunting ground, which they kept burned over to 
furnish good pasturage for game. With water supply in lake and 

river and g I feeding ground, we can fancy the herds of deer 

grazing about then as they do now. Indeed, years of protec- 
tion may mean that they are even more plentiful now than then. 
As many as fifteen have been seen together at a time and the gar- 
dens and crops sometimes suffer from their depredations. It is 
interesting to note thai as early as 1718 attempt was made to pro- 
tect by law deer during the breeding season. 

The burned-over grounds must have simplified for the early 
settlers the problem of clearing the land and made transportation 
in the vicinity much easier. It is said that at this time an ox-cart 
could be driven over most of the young timber growth which had 
-tailed since the lands came into the hands of the white men and 
the yearly fires of the Indians had ceased. 

The Mohegan Indians, a friendly tribe, held much land in this 
section and the white men's title to it was received by will from 
Joshua, sachem, the third son of Uncas. Eecords of the will are 
in the State Library at Hartford. It includes several legacies to 
different groups of men. Parts of Coventry seemed to be disputed 
territory between two of these groups, which was responsible for 
early difficulties over land titles. 

Joshua made careful provisions for his children as regards 
property and their upbringing. "Further my Will is that my Chil- 
dren be brought up the first four years with Trusty and their 
mother to teach them English * * * and that the expiration of the 
said four Years I desire that my Children may be kept at the Eng 
lish Schoole." He wishes them kept apart from the "Connecticott" 
Indians. He asks to be buried at "Seybrook in a Coffin after the 
English manner" and disposes of personal treasures, giving his 
(inns to his two Sons, four to each of them, his Pistoll to his eldest 
son, and his seven Brass kettles and four iron pots to be equally 
divided to his three children. 

Surveys and Settlements 

About L706, Wm. Pitkin, Maj. Joseph Talcott, Win. Whiting 
and Richard Lord were appointed a committee to manage the lands 
of the legatees so as to promote their growth. Nathaniel Uust, who 

6 



had settled on land here, was later added to the committee. In the 
earliest volume of Town Records in Coventry is a map as shown on 
folder facing page 1. The survey was made in March, 1708, with 
the lands set off in allotments and highways planned. Three reser- 
vation allotments were set off for use of church and school. On this 
map is noted the house and lot of one Samuel Burchard, abutting 
on the southwest shore of the ""Big Pond." The value of the water 
power from the outlet of the lake for the location of a grist-mill 
was even then forecasted in the naming of the stream "Mill Brook." 
The volume of town records previously mentioned has an inter- 
esting list of the allotments drawn by Joshua's legatees : 

To Mr. Samuel Willis 15-20-42-51-64 

To Coll John Talcott's heirs 7-25-45-59-72 

To Mr. James Richards & his heirs 6-18-41-47-66 

To Coll. John Allin his heirs 12-16-38-56-74 

To Mr. William Pitkin's heirs 10-27-43-60-61 

To Mr. Richard Lord's heirs 8-17-34-54-65 

To Nathaniel Willit's heirs 14-21-44-57-70 

To Thos Burnham's heirs 4-22-31-46-63 

To Cap 4 jos Fitch asigns 3-28-40-52-73 

To Cap 1 Nicholas Olmstead 11-26-32-55-02 

To Cap 1 Thomas Bull's heirs 5-23-33-J9-67 

To Barth Barnard's heirs 1-24-37-53-6!) 

To Mr. John Hains his heirs 13-19-36-50-75 

To Mr. Hinyry Howard— heirs 9-29-39-48-71 

To Mr. Eleaz or Ways heirs 2-30-35-58-68 

Settlers for some of these various allotments were later sought. 

The term settlers is such a substantial one and prophetic of 
progress. For many hundreds of years the Indians had doubtless 
roamed these hills and dales, but with no appreciable sign of ad- 
vancement. The white man settled and the era of advancing civili- 
zation in Coventry started and has gone on with the intervening 
years, as the results of to-day show. 

Copies of the following documents in possession of the State 
Library in Hartford give hints of the condition of the country here 
from 1700 to 1709 or 1710: 



I ni'Y OF DOCUMENT IN CONNECTICUT STATE LIBKAKY 

(Towns and Lands, Vol. 5, P. 29) 

Testimony. Benjamin Eoward of full age Testifyeth that about 
14 years ago I lived at Wungumbaug now Coventry and I was 
Setled there by the proprietors of said Land Liven by Joshua In- 
dian Sachem Viz. by Mr William Pitkin, Col. Whiting and the rest 
of the Committee Improved by the proprieto 1 " and that Sam 1 Birch- 
ard with his family lived there at the Same Time and I often heard 
him Say upon the Same Right, the wife of Benj a Howard Testify- 
eth unto the above written. Sworn in Court. Auguft 17th, 1714. 
A True Copy on file Test Hez Wyllys Clerk. 

COPY OF DOCUMENT l\ CONNECTICUT STATE LIBRARY 

( Towns and Lands, V. 29) 

The Testimony of John Meakins and Samuel Meakins both of 
Law full age — Testify and say, that four or five Years ago at the 
Least: Last Michaelmas, Wee being out in the Wilderness, Looking 
for horfes, Took up our Lodging at a houfe in the Wilderness on 
the Southward Side of a Pond now called Coventry Pond, which 
houfe went by the name of Birchard's houfe and went Pound s d 
pond and Saw no houfe there at that time besides that which Wee 
Lay in and having Occafion to go into the Wilderness that way the 
Last winter was two years since & Comming to the above s d Pond 
or place now Called Coventry and We Saw on both Sides of the 
pond houfes built and Land fenced and improved which land was 
reputed Joshua's right and claimed by M r Richards and M r Pitkin 
and Sundry other Gentlemen of Hartford. 

Hartford Aprill 17th, 1714— Sworn in Couri Aprill 17th, 17] I, 
Test. Hez Wyllys Clerk. 

A True Copy on file — Test Hez. Wyllys Clerk. 

A petition presented to the General Court in 1712 gives the 
number of families at about sixteen. Trumbull says that the early 
families came principally from Hartford and Northampton, Mass. 

About 1712 we get trace of an attempt on the part of the pro- 
prietors to increase the population of the town. The wife of Richard 
Lord, after the death of her husband, sends a petition in May, 1712, 
to the Assembly that, whereas "the proprietors of Said Lands have 
Agreed to Settle about Sixty Families in the town your memoralist 
should settle 2 Allottments for the encouragement and Settlement 



of Said Town by Which the Other part of the lands My lait Hus- 
band was Heir to will be more valuable for His children." She 
therefore asked for permission to sell these allotments, which was 
granted. 

That the struggle for existence still continued, however, is indi- 
cated in a petition which was sent to the Governor and General 
Court in May, 1717. Here the "petitioners" pray that they may be 
"releaved" from their present difficulties. "Our charges to main- 
tain the worship of God are greate and heavy by the reason of the 
smallness of our numbers and wee increas very sloly. * * * A part 
of our Land is nott settled by any inhabitants so that the burden is 
Like to bee very heavy upon us unless we can have some releas." It 
is at this same time that the settlers ask that their "neighbors That 
Live between Coventry south line and Hop Eiver may be joyned 
to our Town." It was not until 1723 that the territory asked for 
and known as the Mile and 
Quarter was resolved annexed 
to Coventry. 

Three years after the petition 
just mentioned, in the year 
1720, Coventry is ordered to 
send their list to the Assembly 
as other towns do that they may 
bear their share of the "Pub- 
lick" charge. Let us hope they 
have received some " releas " 
from their previous "heavy bur- 
den" ere this is added unto it. 

Development of Churches 

The date of the establishment 
of the first church is uncertain. 
With the incorporation of the n , „ t . T . 

r Gravestone standing in Nathan Hale 

town, provision was made for Cemetery in memory of Rev. Jo- 

- 1 . seph Meacham, first pastor of the 

the Securing of a minister as First Congregational Church. For 

the reader's convenience, the in- 
SOOll as possible. scription is repeated in the text. 





Pastor Meacham was the one 
obtained and had one of the 
good old pastorates, remaining 
with his people until lie died, in 
1752, nearly forty years. He is 
buried in Xathan Hale Ceme- 
tery and his virtues are recorded 
as follows on the stone which 
marks his grave : "The Rev. 
Mr. Joseph Meacham was near 
10 years ye learned, faithful and 
painful pastor of ye church in 
Coventry. He was a man of 
God, fervent in prayer, zealous 
and plain in preaching, sincere 
in reproving, holy and prudent 
in conversation ; a kind hus- 
band, tender father, sincere 
friend; a lover of Christ and 
souls. Tired with ye labors of 
ye World, his ardent soul bent its flight to Jesus, and dropped 
ye body to rest here till Jesus come. Sept. 15th, 1752, in ye 67th 
year of his age." 

His wife, Esther Williams, of Deerfield, daughter of Rev. John 
Williams, had endured many hardships of pioneer life previous to 
her marriage. When but 12 years of age, her mother and the baby 
were murdered by Indians and the remainder of the family were 
carried captives into Canada by the savages. For two years she 
lived with the Indians. What tales she must have been table to tell 
to the four sons and six daughters who blessed her married life: 
They were the grandparents of Rev. Nathan Strong, of Hartford, 
and Rev. Jos. Strong, of Norwich.* Several other descendants 
were clergymen and one, Rev. G. M. S. Perry, a missionary. 

The growth of the church during the first century was slow. In 



Gravestone of Mrs. Joseph Meach- 
am, also standing' in Nathan 
Hale Cemetery. 



•Cole's History of Tolland County, Conn. 

10 



1811 there were but twenty-nine members, the women being in the 
majority — twenty-one to eight. Soon after that, a series of re- 
vivals under the pastorate of Rev. Chauneey Booth added nearly 
three hundred members to the church. 

In the State Library at Hartford is the manuscript petition 
from which the following statements regarding a new church in 
1766 are taken. 

The Society wanted to build a new church and a committee was 
appointed by the Wind bam County Court to investigate and decide 





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The old Congregational Church in South Coventry that formerly stood on 
High Street opposite the Green. At the left old Academy Build- 
ing familiar to the childhood of the older residents. 

on a location. The decision which it gave was not favorably re- 
ceived by the Society. A petition was sent to the General Court, 
asking that the location might be changed up near the school-house 
where the meeting-house can stand more commodious and "eligant." 

The petition was granted, but it does not seem to be known 
whether or not a church was built at that time. 

The old First Church sbown in a remodeled form in the cut 
was in South Coventry on High Street, opposite the Green. Within 
the memory of present residents horse-sheds stood on either side of 



11 




FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHIKCII. SiiTTH COVENTRY, 
Erected 1849. 



12 



it and the old Academy was nearby. Within, were high box pews 
in the main part of the church and in the galleries which extended 
around three sides of it. These were later taken out and replaced 
by more modern sittings. The old church is now gone, having been 
destroyed by fire, but parts of the old pews are still in existence. 
These were used in finishing off rooms in houses on Eipley Hill now 
owned by Rev. Robert H. Sherman and Mr. Frank B. Topliff. The 
bell in the church at Mansfield Center is the old bell which 
called to worship in the old South Coventry Congregational 
Church. The posts to the bell tower became unsafe and the bell 




The street in North Coventry, showing at the left the church, chapel and 
Grange Hall, respectively. 



and lumber were exchanged for shingling the church. Town 
meeting was formerly held in the ground floor room of the old 
church. 



North Coventry Church 

This is still the custom in the North Coventry Church. The 
North Coventry Parish was incorporated in October, 1740, and the 
Society held its first meeting in the following December. Previ- 

13 



ously, in 1737, the town voted to raise one farthing on the pound 
for the expense of a minister there, who was to preach in the dwell- 
ing house of Noah Rust. In 1738, arrangements were made re- 
garding a school and burial ground. 

Five years of trouble within the Society, from 1743-1748, re- 
sulted in the setting off at that time of still another parish, which 
was called Andover. Mr. Nathan Strong preached as a candidate 
in North Coventry in 1744 and w r as ordained October 9th, 1745. 
This, according to Cole, was soon after the meeting-house was in 
condition to use. This first meeting-house was the cause of much 




The Second Congregational Church, North Coventry, erected 1847. 

trouble. Two surveys were made to determine the center of the 
parish and a legislative committee chosen to locate the site. It was 
built a few rods west of the present church and was forty-five feet 
long and forty broad. It was ten years in process of construction 
and was never completed. 

The church records show that hills for the election of the church 
now standing had been paid during the first pan of the year 1848, 
which would seem to make the year of erection L847. Rev. Hollis 
M. Bartletl is the present pastor. 

it 



Village Church 

In 1848 a split occurred in the old First Church in South Cov- 
entry. About fifty of the members left and formed a new society. 
Meetings were held for about a year in a private hall before the 
present church, known at that time as the Village Church, was 
ready. The older members of the First Church died until few were 
left, and in 1866 the two societies again worshipped together. A 
permanent union of the two under the name of the First Congrega- 
tional Church of Coventry was effected January 6th, 1869, by a 
council. This church was received into the fellowship of neighbor- 
ing churches March 11th of the same year. Eev. Nestor Light has 
been pastor of the church for thirteen years. 




Methodist Church, erected 1867. 



Methodist Church 

Although Coventry is the birthplace of Lorenzo Dow, one of 
the early ministers to spread the doctrines of Methodism, it was 
not until 1822 that the Methodist Church had a definite start. Mr. 
Gardner, of East Hartford, at this time conducted meetings in the 
South Street schoolhouse. The early converts were immersed in the 

15 



Lake. The new movemenl met with opposition and the use of the 
schoolhouse was denied them. A private house and an old store on 
South Street then served as places of worship, but inteftst waned, 
and in 1827 not even an organized class existed. Two years after, 
meetings were again held, this time in the East Street school. In 
is:!!), when it was again attempted to forbid them the use of the 
building, effort was made to raise money for a church. One thousand 
two hundred and six dollars and ninety-one cents was collected, and 
with this a chapel was built. The present building on Main Street 
in South Coventry was built during the pastorate of Rev. S. S. 
Cummings. The old church was later used as a temporary church 
by the Catholics, then as a Methodist parsonage; later it was rented 
to Father Quinn while the present parochial residence was being 
built. It is now used as a dwelling. 

Rev. Duncan Dodd is the present pastor of the Methodist 
Church. 

Catholic Church 

The Catholics at first gathered in private houses for worship. 
Father McCabe said the first mass in Jeremiah Crowley's house, 




St. .Mary's Catholic- Church, erected 1877. 

16 



near the railroad station. This house is now occupied by Mr. 
Wright, who carries the mail between the postoffice and the trains. 
As has been previously noted, the old Methodist Church was used 
by the Catholics for service, beginning about 1863 and continuing 
for about fourteen years. 

On Good Friday, 1877, ground was broken for the foundations 
of St. Mary's Church. The men of the congregation came in a 
body to help. The cornerstone was laid on June 10th, 1877, and 
the work of building was so expeditious that the church was dedi- 
cated on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 29th, 1877. The building was 
accomplished under the guidance of Father Shah an. 

After many years of mission relationship, South Coventry was 
honored on January 2d, 1886, with Rev. J. J. Quinn as first resi- 
dent pastor. At the establishment of the parish about eighty-five 
families were included. During Father Quinn's years of service the 
present parochial residence was built. 

Land for a cemetery in the lower part of town was blessed Sun- 
day, August 26th, 1894. Mrs. Carr's grave was the first one in the 
new cemetery. She was buried September 19th. 

The parish includes a considerable territory outside of Coventry. 
There are two outside stations, one at Eagleville and one at Hop 
River. Rev. John F. Donahue is the present parish priest. 

Schools 

In the early allotments of land three were reserved for the sup- 
port of church and school. 

The first school records were made in 1726, as follows: 

"That ye representatives next May shall lay before the General 
Assembly ye sercomstances of ye schooll Lott & pray for Liberty to 
dispos of it for ye use of ye school." 

September, 1728, it was "Voted that they would build a school 
House" and that "ye school house'' should be set up within twenty 
ids. of the meeting house and should be 18 ft. w. and 20 ft. 1. 
Peter Buell, Capt. Samuel Parker and Thomas Porter were ap- 
pointed a "Comety to carry on ye Building of ye school House." 

17 



Iii November of the same year the salary of the schoolmaster was 
fixed ai not more than eleven pounds for the winter quarter. 

The presenl school in South Coventry village was buill in L873. 
h contains three departments. Schools are kept in eighi other 
outlying districts. 

In the early days the minister of the town was accustomed to lit 
for college the few youths who aspired for a higher education. 




(ild .Military Training Ground, looking toward the Lake. 

Coventry has oo high school, but sends its pupils who wish high 
school work to Willimantic, Rockville, ot some other nearby sec- 
ondary school. 

In the fall of L911, the School Board voted to ask the State to 
-mm us a superintended of schools. In January, 1912, Mr. 
George W. Emerson assumed charge in that capacity. Be is also 
in charge of the school- in Lebanon and Columbia. 



Training Bands 

Al -i coincident with the building of the first school, in L728, 

was the establishmenl of two military companies. The firsl com- 

18 



pany was in command of Samuel Parker; the second, in charge of 
John Bissell. 

The green on Monument Hill and High Street was used as a 
training ground. 

Industrial Development 

With provision made for the spiritual welfare of the settlement, 
for the education of the children, and for its military affairs, the 
development of the farming opportunities in the little settlement 
went on. 

Upon each farm, both outdoors and in, were carried on in mini- 
ature many of the various industries which now involve immense 
machine-equipped plants scattered broadcast throughout the land. 
The contrast between the home two hundred years ago and the 
modern home is almost as great as that between the stage coach 
and the aeroplane. 

What would Madam Burchard, Madam Rust, if such there were, 
or any other of those pioneer dames who lived in their rough homes 
in the wilderness, have thought if they could have stepped to the 
telephone and ordered brought to their door bread, pastry, etc. ; 
butter and cheese; hams, bacon, sausage and lard; dried beef, 
corned beef or cuts of fresh meat; canned vegetables and fruits; 
soap and candles; to say nothing of fresh fruits from many lands, 
tea, coffee, spices and many another luxury for the table ? 

Not so was it indeed in the days two hundred years ago. Bread 
they had, to be sure, but only after the rye had been sown in pre- 
pared ground; the grain harvested, threshed, winnowed and 
ground; and the bread made, kneaded into loaves and baked. All 
these processes, except, perhaps, the grinding, had to be performed 
by some one of the family, or possibly a very occasional helping 
neighbor. So with many of the other above articles of food, the 
processes necessary to prepare or preserve must be carried on at 
home. In those days the yearly or semi-yearly cheese making, 
candle and soap making were important events. 

19 



What was true of food was true also as regards articles of cloth- 
ing. If my lady needed even a pair of stockings think of the labor 
involved for different ones of the family : the care of the sheep, the 
washing and shearing of the wool, the carding, spinning into yarn, 
reeling into skeins, dyeing and finally knitting. For most other 
woolen garments weaving took the place of knitting and then the 
cloth must be fulled, cut and sewed by hand into the article re- 
quired. 

Now it is possible for the mother to step into an automobile, be 
whirled away to an adjoining city, and secure almost any desired 
garment all ready to wear. 

The early specialists along domestic lines were the dressmaker 
and tailoress and the cobbler and bootmaker, who went from home 
to home to help make clothing and shoe the family, often number- 
ing more than a dozen. 

Scattered about, especially near Mansfield, one occasionally sees 
a gnarled old mulberry tree. Some attention was given to raising 
silkworms in Connecticut as early as 1760. The industry was inter- 
fered with during the Eevolutionary War. Later it was revived, 
and at the time of the War of 1812, when importation of raw silk 
was hindered, Mansfield furnished raw silk for coach lace to a man- 
ufacturer in Newark, N\ J. This was said to be superior in strength 
and luster to the best imported silk.* 

An occupation outside the regular work of the home and farm 
was thus opened. Women were often employed. They received 
the munificent sum of 42 and 50 cents per week and board. Calico 
dresses were at that time a luxury, to be worn only to church or on 
some especial occasion. At that time calico cost 64 or 67 cents 
a yard and girls often worked an entire season picking the mul- 
berry leaves and feeding the worms to get a printed dress, seven 
yards for $4.50, which was not homespun. 

From now on the change in the industrial life was rapid. Tn 
June, 1712, an entry in the town records says that a committee is 
appointed to arrange for the establishment of a town mill for 
grinding the settlers' corn. 



•Hunt's Merchant's Magazine, Vol. II. 

20 



Arrangement was made with Jonathan Hartshorn in 1716 for 
building and maintaining one. Part of the agreement is as fol- 
lows: 

"That Jonathan Hartshorn for and in the consideration of 
the said sixty acres of land secured by deed unto said Hartshorn 
upon consideration of his full compliance for himself, his heirs, his 
executors, administrators and assigns, for all times, forever, here- 
after * * * shall at his and their own proper cost and charge build 
and erect a good and sufficient grist mill, within the said town of 
Coventry, on the brook that issueth or runneth from the Great 
Pond, near the meeting house, and shall also keep and maintain 
the said grist mill in the said place forever in good repair so that it 
shall be sufficient to grind all the corn that the inhabitants of the 
said town shall at all times hereafter have need to be ground, for 
their use making as good meal as is or shall be generally made by 
other mills within the aforesaid colony." 

The old mill was standing during the memory of many residents 
and the old millstone near the factory of T. H. Wood Co. now marks 
the spot. 

Thus early was the power of the stream issuing from the Great 
Pond utilized. It was about a hundred years later before the water 
power began to be applied to any extent to manufactures. 

In 1816 John Boynton built a wool carding mill. Here the 
farmer's wool could be carded into rolls ready for spinning into 
yarn. The relief from hand carding left the families with so much 
extra time that they employed it by doing extra knitting of socks 
and mittens for sale in New York City. It is said that farmers 
brought their wool for fifteen miles around to avail themselves of 
the help which machine work gave. 

Mr. Boynton was the inventor of a card machine which was in 
use in various woolen mills at that time and had a machine shop 
in which they were made. Other carding machines were in use 
in the town about this time. A Gazeteer of Connecticut, published 
for the years 1810-18, gives the following statistics: The manu- 
factures and mechanical employments exclusive of those of a 

21 



domestic character consist oi' one cotton factory, two paper mills, 
one glass factory, one manufactory of carding machines, three small 
distilleries, five tanneries, three grain mills, six saw mills and five 
carding machines. There are seven mercantile stores. 

Many mills were burnt. Some of the business enterprises were 
failures. The following articles are recorded as having been manu- 
factured in Coventry : cheap wool hats for the slave trade, satinets, 
goods with a cotton warp and good all wool filling, cloth dressing 
and fulling mill, hooks and eyes, gun cartridges, cotton picker, 
cotton yarn, cotton cloth, cotton batting and sewing silk. 

In Cole's History of Tolland County, published in 1888, the 
following manufacturers are mentioned as flourishing: A. Kings- 
bury & Son's paper box factory, the Phoenix Metallic Cartridge 
Co., A. D. Bottum's sewing silk, C. H. Kenyon & Co.'s woolen mill, 
A. "Washburn & Son's silk mill, T. H. Wood silk business, J. M. 
Wood, woolen goods. 

At present, in 1912, the list is as follows : The T. H. Wood Co., 
silk throwsters and fish lines; Eugene A. Tracy, Inc., wool extracts; 
John A. Dady Corp., silk throwsters; Kingsbury Box & Printing 
Co.; Wm. F. Wood & Son, manufacturers of toric lenses; II. K. & 
W. A. Washburn, silk throwsters ; Valley Mills Co., wool extracts ; 
Wm. H. Armstrong, wagons, hubs, spokes, etc. ; South Coventry 
Paper Co. 

Roads 

As the early map of the town shows, provision for highways 
within the settlement was made in the early surveys. After the 
coming of the settlers from Northampton, Windsor, Hartford, etc., 
there must have been the broken paths of their making if similar 
trails had not previously existed. 

As the town grew and there was surplus farm produce, such as 
beef and pork, butter and cheese, trade is said to have been carried 
on with Norwich landing, ox teams carrying the merchandise to 
and fro. 

Shipping was carried on at that time between Norwich and the 
West Indies. 

22 



In 1769 a petition was sent to the General Assembly for permis- 
sion to shorten the route between Coventry and Hartford. Later, 
pikes were established. 

In 1797 the Boston Turnpike Co. was incorporated for estab- 
lishing and keeping in repair a road from Hartford through East 
Hartford, Bolton, Coventry, Mansfield, Ashford, Pomfret and 
Thompson to the Massachusetts line. Toll gates were established 
along the road, but there was none on this pike in Coventry. 

The list of tolls and regulations are, however, inserted here : 

cts. mis. 

Every travelling four wheel pleasure carriage & horses 25-0 

" chaise, chair & sulky 12-5 

" loaded wagon or cart 12—5 

" empty do or cart 6-3 

" single horse cart 6-3 

" empty horse cart 4-0 

Horses, cattle & mules each 2-0 

Every pleasure sleigh 6-3 

Every loaded sled or sleigh 4-0 

" empty " " " 4-0 

Man & horse 4-0 

Sheep & swine each 1-0 

"Provided always, that persons travelling on the Lords day and 
other days to attend public worship where they ordinarily attend : 
persons travelling to attend funerals : farmers passing through said 
gates to attend their ordinary farming business : all persons living 
within one mile and a half of either of said gates, and not passing 
said gate further than one mile and a half : persons going to mill 
on horseback: persons travelling to attend society, town and free- 
man's meetings, and persons obliged by law to perform military 
duty, travelling to attend training, shall not be liable to the pay- 
ment of said toll." 

The present pike to Hartford was built in 1808 and the lilac- 
overgrown cellar where the toll house stood may be seen not far 
from the house now occupied by J. C. Ayer. An elderly friend, 
who used to live near there, has told me how, as a child, she de- 
lighted to run and open the gate for the passer-by. 

23 



Travel 

Travel was largely on horseback during the early history of 
the town. Eichard Hale, writing to his sons, Nathan and I-hioch, 
at Yale, tells them he will either send them horses for their home- 
coming or have them procure some in New Haven. 

The stage coach in the early part of 1800 was the next step in 
the transportation of passengers. Austin Dunham, who was horn 
in South Coventry in 1843 and was taken soon after that to Hart- 
ford to live, used as a boy to visit his great-aunt, who lived in the 
Jesse Root house on Bipley Hill. In some sketches of the olden 




Main Street in South Coventry, Methodist Church and Postoffice on the 

right, store of W. L. Wellwood and site of Booth- 

Dimock Library on the left. 



times he mentions the coach trips between there and his home in 
1 1 ait ford. As I write I can see from my window the old house, 
with the pike in front, and can almost fancy the lumbering old 
coach with its four horses standing there with its occupants laugh- 
in- when the farewells are made and great-aunt hopes Austin will 
soon come again, although he always makes her twice glad — glad 
when he comes and glad when he goes. We present-day residents 
have had a taste of coaching. Previous to the time of the trolley, 

24 



1909, a coach with two horses used to run between South Coventry 
village and the depot, meeting the various trains. Now that, too, is 
but a matter of history. 

Trains on the present Central Vermont road commenced run- 
ning about 1850. The road was then known as the New London, 
Willimantic and Palmer. 

Taverns 

Soon after the settlement of the town, among the other officers 
elected for the year 1715, Nathaniel Eust was named as tavern 
keeper. Thus early was arrangement made for the traveling public. 




Central Vermont Railroad station, showing Mr. 

Robertson's coach that antedated 

the trolley. 



The old-time legal requirement for a tavern was a spare bed and 
stable room for two horses. 

Someone has said the "Taverns supplied in some degree the 
place not only of our hotels and eating houses, but of clubs, news- 
papers and postoffice. What general news ever reached the town 
was circulated by the nightly gatherings at the tavern." 

Some of the older taverns of Coventry are as follows, accord- 
ing to statements made by old residents of the town for Cole's 
book in 1888 : 

The oldest one remembered was at the house or location of Wm. 
Gardner on Ripley Hill, the place now occupied by Albert Baker. 
The next was at the south end of South Street, with Novatus Cush- 

25 



man as landlord. The main road from Hartford to Windham and 

Brooklyn passed then- at that time. 

The old tavern on the Hartford and Boston mail stage road is 
now known as the Pollard place, near the Willimantic River. 

The house \\e-t of the Jesse Root house, now occupied by George 
Freeman, was an old tavern. The old sign was in the shape of a 
shield. On it was the picture of a man with a bird in his hand 
and a hush with a bird in it, accompanied by the old proverb, "A 
bird in the hand is worth two in the bush." "Roderick Rose" was 
the oame upon the sign. 

After the Hartford pike, running through the town, was opened, 
a hotel was kept just below Mr. Kolli's harness shop by the follow- 
ing landlords: Azel Edgerton, Charles Carpenter, Mason Dimock 
and John Bard. John Rose had a hotel at the present Rose place 
by the Green. Royal Manning succeeded him. At his death, in 
is 11. the hotel was discontinued. One was kept in the present 
Thomas Wood place, opposite the Nathan Hale Monument, by 
.Martin Lyman. 

The present Bidwell House was opened in 1822 by Solomon 
Bidwell, whose son and grandson succeeded him. 

Mails 

The early mails were carried on horseback. Cole says, Bezaleel 
Hutchison was mail contractor for several years, with the compensa- 
tion of $75 a year. The average mail in 1820 was only about two 
letters a day. Then it took from four to six days between here and 
New York, and news a week old was hailed with a zest similar to 
ours over news fresh from the wire. About 1826 the mail was car- 
ried between Hartford and Providence by stage. At first, mails 
were carried but three times a week, but soon daily mails were 
inaugurated. Transportation of mails was made by steam train 
about 1850. 

Post Offices 

'Idie first postoffice is said to have been opened in 1810 at a house 
in North Coventry at the top of the hill west of the church. Silas 

20 



Hubbard was first postmaster. The first office in South Coventry 
was ten years later, in the house opposite the Nathan Hale Monu- 
ment, with Jeremiah Parrish as postmaster. The postoffiee in 
North Coventry has now been discontinued. The South Coventry 
postoffiee is in the drug store conducted by L. M. Phillips at the 
corner of Main and Mason Streets. The territory outside the vil- 
lage is fairly well covered by rural free delivery routes. One starts 
from the South Coventry office and two from the office in Eock- 
ville, while a wagon from South Willington covers a small portion 
of the town, as does also one from Andover. 

War Times 

Progress in Coventry, as throughout the country, was affected 
by the various wars. 

French and Indian War 

She escaped the earlier Indian wars before the time Coventry 
was settled, but participated to some extent in the French and In- 
dian War in 1755, as shown by town records, a few of which fol- 
low: "Henry Woodward of Cov. was killed by the Indians * * * 
1756." "Simon Groves died at Fort Edward of Small pox in Oct. 
1657." "Ebenezer Eoot died of fever in old French war near Lake 
George, 1758." "Noah Grant joined expedition against Crown 
Point in 1755." "Lieut. Sol. Grant was ambushed and killed by 
Indians in this war." 

Revolutionary War 

At the time of the Eevolutionary War Coventry ranked as a 
considerable town in the colony, with a Grand List of £20,856 and 
a population of 2,032 whites and 24 blacks. Eight nobly did she 
do her part in the struggle for the independence of the nation. 

In October of 1774 the Colonial Assembly of Connecticut re- 
quired the selectmen of the towns to provide a double quantity of 
powder, balls and flint. In January, 1775, the same Assembly 
ordered the entire militia to muster and drill once a week during 
the three months following. Stirring times there must have been 

27 



on the old training green that winter. When the blow at Lexing- 
ton Pell on April L9th, 1775, "horse expresses" carried the news 
throughout New England. This is Connecticut's response, written 
April 21st, from Lebanon, the residence of Governor Trumbull, to 
Presidenl Hancock of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress: 
"Every preparation is making to support your province. * * * The 
ardor of our people is such that they can't be kept back. The colonels 
are to forward part of the best men and the most ready as fast as 
possible, the remainder to be ready at a moment's warning." A hun- 
dred and sixteen soldiers are recorded as going from Coventry, 




The Hale homestead, residence of Deacon Richard Hale, father of Nathan, 
now owned by Mr. P. H. Peterson. 

ranking well in numbers with any town in the colony. Twenty- 
seven days is the longest recorded period of service at that time. 

In the long struggle which followed it is said that not a soldier 
had to be drafted in Coventry to fill the quota for the town. Meas- 
ures were adopted by the town to provide for the families of the 
absent soldiers and bounties were generously offered. 

Encouragement by the citizens of the town in the way of cloth- 
ing for the soldiers and care of their families was freely given. It 
is said that Richard Hale, father of ('apt. Nathan Hale, would 

28 



often during war time forbid his family using the wool from the 
farm for themselves, that blankets for the soldiers might be made 
from it. The passing soldier was sure of food and shelter from 
this patriotic house. 

The assistant commissary for the State was Jeremiah Ripley, 
who lived on Ripley Hill in Coventry. In May, 1777, Capt. Hunt- 
ington, of Norwich, was 
ordered to deliver 100 
barrels of Continental 
powder to Cap. J. Rip- 
ley, of Coventry, to be 
carefully kept until fur- 
ther orders. 

February 26, 1778, 
the same Jeremiah Rip- 
ley was directed by the 
General Assembly to 
send under a guard so 
soon as might be, two 
tons of fine powder in 




The Ripley homestead, erected in 1792 by Jere- 
miah Ripley, Assistant Commissary in the 
Revolution, now the residence of Mr. A. E. 
Peterson. 



5 hands to 
commissary of artillery at Springfield.* 



Ezekiel Chevers, Esq., 



Nathan Hale 

Over a hundred Coventry men are recorded in the lists of 'Rev- 
olutionary soldiers. We honor all of these men who so bravely did 
their part, but the name which stands out pre-eminently in Cov- 
entry's part in the Revolution is that of Captain Nathan Hale. 

At the time when the war broke out, Nathan Hale was teaching 
in New London. The news of the alarm at Lexington was brought 
thither by hurrying steed, and upon its receipt a town meeting at 
once gathered. Nathan Hale was present and spoke as follows: 
"Let us march immediately and never lay down our arms until we 
obtain our independence." He enrolled as a volunteer. The next 
day he met his pupils, "gave them earnest counsel, prayed with 
them and shaking each by the hand," left. 

The stay at Lexington was probably not long, but was followed 
by a permanent connection with the army, a letter to his father 



♦Colonial Records of Connecticut. 



29 



saying that "a sense of duty urged him to sacrifice everything for 
his country." 

In a note of resignation to the school proprietors 'of his New 
London school, he says: "Schoolkeeping is a business of which 1 
was always fond. * * * I have thought much of never quitting it 
but with life, but at present there seems an opportunity for more 
extended public service." 

Hale's company was stationed for a short time at New London, 
and September 4th, 1775, was ordered to camp near Boston. Jan- 




The Nathan Hale Monument and Nathan Hale Cemetery. 

uary 1st, 1776, he was commissioned a captain by Congress. In 
April he went by way of Norwich to New York. But little is re- 
corded of Hale between this time and September. 

At this juncture it was of utmost importance to General Wash- 
ington to learn if possible the plans of the British troops under 
Howe on Long Island. An appeal through Knowlton was made 
to the officers for a volunteer for this service of spying. Hale had 
been ill and was late in coming to the assembly of officers. Knowl- 
ton's request had previously met with no response, but when Hale 
learned of the need he met it with the words, "I will undertake it." 

30 



His attitude toward the work which he undertook is perhaps 
best shown in the words with which he is said to have answered 
the entreaties of friends not to undertake so hazardous and, in a 
way, degrading task: "I think I owe to my country the accom- 
plishment of an object so important, and so much desired by the 
Commander of her armies — and 
I know no other mode of obtain- 
ing the information, than by as- 
suming a disguise, and passing 
into the enemy's camp. I am 
fully sensible of the conse- 
quences of discovery and capture 
in such a situation. But for a 
year I have been attached to the 
army, and have not rendered 
any material service, while 
receiving a compensation for 
which I make no return. Yet I 
am not influenced by the expec- 
tation of promotion or pecuniary 
reward. I wish to be useful, 
and every kind of service neces- 
sary for the public good becomes 
honorable by being necessary. If 
the exigencies of my country de- 
mand a peculiar service, its 
claims to the performance of 
that service are imperious." 

The expedition was under- 
taken by him with the fatal re- 
sult which we all know. Sep- 
tember 22d, 1776, Nathan Hale 
was hanged as a spy. His last 
words are said to have been : 
"My only regret is that I have 
but one life to lose for my coun- 
try." 

The depth of his patriotism, 
his unswerving devotion to duty 

31 




The Hale gravestone in Nathan 
Hale Cemetery; the inscription 
reads: "Durable stone preserve 
the monumental record. Nathan 
Hale Esq. a Capt. in the army 
of the United States who was 
born June 6th 1755 and received 
the first honors of Yale College 
Sept 1773 resigned his life a 
sacrifice to his country's liberty 
at New York Sept. 22d 1776 
Etatis 22d. Mr. Richard Hale 
Junr born Feb. 20th 1757 died 
of a consumption in the Island 
of St. Eustalia Feb 12th 17 93. 
aged 37 years they were sons of 
Deac Richard & Mrs. Elizabeth 
Hale of Coventry. Two daugh- 
ters of Mr. Richard Hale Junr 
and Mrs. Mary Hale one nam'd 
Mary born July 6th 1787 and 
died Dec. 10th 1791, the other 
Polly born Jan 25th 1792 and 
died Oct 2d 1793. Their bodies 
sleep beneath this monument." 



as he saw it, his ardent desire to serve the public in fullest measure, 
his amiable, vivacious, upright Christian life, and the solemn 
grandeur of his death are all so full of inspiration to us in these 
later days and to our children after us that we should all be grateful 
for the memorials which have been erected to his memory and which 
serve to bring his life again and again to the minds of men. One 
stands at the entrance to the cemetery which bears his name. The 
old family stone in the same yard also records his life and death. 
The one pictured on the cover is in New York City. Two are in 
Hartford, one at the capitol and one in the Ateneum grounds. 
Still another is at Huntington, L. I., where he was supposed to 
have been captured. 

War of 1812 

That Coventry shared in this war is evidenced by the stones 
in the cemeteries of the town. In the different cemeteries of the 
North Parish seventeen soldiers in this war are buried. 

Civil War 

During this war, the town again voted premiums and bounties 
to volunteers. In September, 1862, the war committee reported 
"That forty-four men have enlisted, making three more than 
enough to fill the quota." It was also voted : "That a meeting of 
the citizens of this town be held at this house next Saturday 'veil- 
ing at 7 o'clock * * * to speak a kind word to our volunteers, who 
are especially invited to attend." A committee was appointed to 
arrange for the Saturday evening meeting. 

In January, 1864, record is made of the successful efforts of 
the war committee in procuring men to enlist to fill the quota of the 
town under the Proclamation of the President calling for 300,000 
men, so that a draft will not be necessary. 

Prominent Coventry Men of the Eighteenth Century 

The list of Coventry men who have served the country either 
at home or abroad is one of which to be proud. 

Confining our attention to the eighteenth century, one of the 
most interesting characters was Lorenzo Dow, the Methodist ex- 

32 



horter. He was born in Coventry, Conn., October 16th, 1777. His 
parents, Humphrey B. and Tabitha (Parker) Dow, were natives 
of the same place. A sudden illness at the age of 12 caused him 
to give attention to religious matters and led to his becoming a 
preacher of the Methodist denomination. He visited Ireland and 
England, preaching to immense 
crowds. In the United States 
he traveled extensively, holding 
camp meetings in the woods, 
preaching in halls and houses 
when churches were not open to 
him. He was accompanied by 
his wife, Peggy, after his mar- 
riage, who shared his vicissi- 
tudes. She died January 6th, 
1820, and is buried in Hebron, 
Conn. Lorenzo died in George- 
town, D. C, February 2d, 1831. 
"Love to God and Man" is the 
sum of true religion. 

A view of Harlan Page's 
birthplace is here shown. He 
was born in 1791. He organ- 
ized the first Sunday school 
class in the church at North 
Coventry. He became a convert 
to the Baptist faith and became 
a missionary in connection with 
the American Tract Society. 

Jesse Eoot, whose picture forms the frontispiece, was a native 
of Coventry, born December 28th, 1736. He graduated from 
Princeton in 1756. After three years as a minister, he studied law 
and was admitted to the bar in Hartford County, 1763. He served 
as a lieutenant-colonel in the Eevolution and was a member of the 
Continental Congress between 1778-83. He was judge of the Su- 
perior Court for many years and chief justice of Connecticut, 1796- 
1807. At the age of 82 he opened the Constitutional Convention 
in 1818. 




Lorenzo Dow, a Methodist preacher 
in many lands. (From engrav- 
ing in " Life, Experience and 
Travels of Lorenzo Dow," by 
Rev. John Dowling, D. D. New 
York, 1854.) 



33 



John Strong, who was born in Coventry August 16th, 1738, 
appears to have been prompted by the pioneer instinct of the time. 
He moved to the north and settled on the east side of Lake Cham- 
plain, where he became eminent as a legislator and local judge. Tn 
1791 he sat in the convention that ratified the United States Con- 
stitution. 

Nathan Strong, Jr., and Joseph Strong were born in Coventry, 

the former, October 16th, 
1748; the latter, September 
21st, 1753, sons of Nathan 
Strong, pastor in North Cov- 
entry. The former was or- 
dained pastor of the First 
Church in Hartford January 
5th, 1774, was a chaplain in 
the Revolutionary army, and 
one of the chief founders of 
the ( 'onnecticut Missionary So- 
ciety in L798. 

Joseph was for fifty-six years 
pastor of the First Church in 
Norwich. Both brothers were 
5iTale graduates and authors of 
many ecclesiastical works. 

Samuel Huntington, the 
third governor of the state of 
Ohio, was another native of 
Coventry, born October ith, 
1765. He was a nephew of Samuel Huntington, signer of the 
Declaration of Independence, by whom he was adopted and edu- 
cated as a lawyer. Previous to his gubernatorial term, 1809-10, 
he was a delegate io the Ohio State Constitutional Convention of 
I 802, judge of the Court of Common Pleas and also of the Supreme 
Court, and slate senator in the first General Assembly of 1803. 
In the second war with Great Britain, 1812-13, he was district 
paymaster, with the rank of colonel. 

Joseph Huntington is better known to Coventry's history, 
although not a native. He was born in the neighboring town of 




Home of Harlan Page, the missionary 
now remodeled and occupied 
liy William Sparne. 



:;t 



Windham, May 5th, 1735, and was a brother of the signer, Samuel, 
mentioned above. He was graduated from Yale in 1762, and one 
year later, June 29th, 1763, was ordained pastor of the First 
Church in Coventry and remained here until his death in 1791. It 
is interesting to note that under his tutelage Nathan Hale was pre- 
pared for college. 

Joel Jones was another native of Coventry — born ( )ctober 25th, 
1795 — who migrated at an early age. He became a lawyer in 
Easton, Pa., and was one of the founders of Lafayette College. In 



1 1 


"' . ■ ' — ■"- 




Pi 

t - - 
V-"V '-..■' 


■ ■ j 


1 s 




"if 

tuiUtttttlhtttV 


as 


111 J \ ■'- m 


mk" 


iiijiMiy 


, MpHjisw- 





Jesse Root Homestead on Ripley Hill, elaborately described in Austin C. 

Dunham's "Reminiscences" in Hartford Daily Courant of April 

6th, now owned by Ferdinand Zechiel's estate. 

1847-9 he was the first president of Girard College in Philadelphia 
and was mayor of that city in 1849. 

Libraries in Coventry 

As the present year is seeing the construction of a beautiful 
library building in our town, it is fitting to bring this historic 
sketch to a close in tracing the development of our libraries. 

Certain old books give evidence of the existence of a library 
previous to 1800 known as the Social Library. 

35 



The next library in Coventry was made possible by the legacy 
which was left by Mrs. Sarah Hale of $3,333.33 in 1803. Mrs. 
Hale was the wife of John Hale, a brother of Nathan Hale, and 
her will carried out the wishes of her husband, who died before 
she did. By the terms of the will the library was especially for 
the use of ministers or those who wished to study for the ministry 
or for missionary work. A certain percent of the money was to 
form a cumulative fund and has now amounted to over $10,000. 
Another part each year is for the purchase of books, and still an- 
other is for the aid of students who wish to be ministers or mis- 
sionaries. The library at present is at the Congregational parson- 
age. It is known as the Hale Donation Library. A portrait of 
John Hale is to be found there. 




•wtr- 






l"^MH>— I— P^— 




Library occupied by the youth Coventry Library 
Association since 1894. 

The beginnings of the present small library in South Coventry 
would certainly seem to illustrate the fulfillment of the promise 
to those who cast their bread upon the waters. A friendless boy 
was cared for and clothed by some kindly women here. Years 
passed and the poor boy became a wealthy man. Dr. Cogswell, the 
man just mentioned, wrote from California in 1879. offering to 
give $500 toward the establishment of a library if the people here 
would raise a similar sum. 

Due to this stimulus, the South Coventry Library Association 
was organized in 1880 and books were loaned on a small payment 
per year until very recently, when it was made free, the town giving 
$100 annually and the state furnishing each year the same amount 

36 



in books. The present building, pictured here, was once used as a 
postoffice, but was purchased by the Association in 1894 for use as 
a library. The library contains about 4000 volumes. 

The Porter Library in North Coventry was started in 1886 by 
Thomas E. Porter and the widow of Dr. John Porter, each of whom 
gave $200. This library, as well as that in South Coventry, were 
beneficiaries in the will of Wm. B. Kingsbury to the extent of about 
$1,200 apiece. 

In 1911 the late Henry F. Dimock left $40,000 in perpetuation 
of the memory of his grandfather, Rev. Chauncey Booth, and his 
father. Timothy Dimock, M. D., to build and endow a library to be 
known as the Booth and Dimock Memorial Library. This explains 
the building now in process of erection, and the accompanying 
illustration will show how the building will look at completion. 
Thus generously has Coventry been aided by her sons and friends. 

As this manuscript is going to press the citizens of Coventry in 
town meeting assembled, August 3d, 1912, have anticipated the 
bicentennial exercises in a very practical manner by purchasing the 
A. O. U. W. Hall on Wall Street, to be used as a Town Hall. 

Thus in briefest outline has the attempt been made to trace 
developments from the beginnings to present accomplishments. 
Many changes have there been, and, we trust, great advance. "Old- 
fashioned manners are disappearing; let not old-fashioned virtues 
also disappear. Let not the material prosperity produce nor accom- 
pany a decrease of intellectual or moral worth." 




Coventry's oldest married couple, Mr. and Mrs. William O. Gardiner, aged 
88 and 85 respectively. They have been married 61 years. 



38 



A POEM IN COMMEMORATION OF THE TWO HUN- 
DREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TOWN 
OF COVENTRY 

Ruth Amelia Higgins 

Long ago when the Indian bold 

Stalked about over meadow and hill, 
Or skulked in thicket, on ledge, 

Near the course of river or rill ; 
When the rivers were not yet harnessed, 

Nor the forest monarchs laid low 
And the wind which came from the northward 

But rumors vague did blow 
Of the white man, the pale-face conqueror, 

Who, armed with his weapons of fire, 
Was taking away from the redman 

The land he had fought to acquire ; 
When as yet in this peaceful valley 

No sign was seen of the foe 
Who should take the peace of the Indian 

And work for his overthrow. 

To this land where lived the Mohegan 

The dreaded white man came 
At last, but quiet and peaceful 

Redeemed somewhat the name. 
And ventured at length to demand, 

As mildly as might be, 
The sale of a large stretch of country 

Where all might live peacefully. 

Then were the young braves angry 

And swore by all that was free 
That the white man should die like a traitor 

Before such ruin should be. 
But Joshua, the brave and the thoughtful, 

Sage chief of the council of war, 
Restrained their impetuous madness 

Before they were carried too far ; 
Rebuked their unfriendly spirit 

With words of wisdom and calm; 
Recommended they sell to the white man, 

Be courteous and do him no harm. 

39 



So a broad stretch of hill and of valley, 

With rocks, with bad soil and good, 
Was gained by the will of the great chief; 

And where wigwams had stood 
Rose the simple log-cabin or frame house, 

The home of the pioneer, 
Willi its work, its pleasures, its frolics, 

The center of health, of good cheer. 

- ' ust two hundred years have passed by it 

Since thai town was founded there — 
The town with the lake of crystal, 

With the cool, refreshing air, 
With hills of green for a setting, 

With land to work and till ; 
With the cheerful hum of the workshop 

And the hnsv whir of the mill. 




Oak tree on the property of Mr. Carl 
G. Johnson, grown from an acorn 
from Connecticut's famous Char- 
ter Oak. 



Two centuries! and in the 
meantime 
A nation's life was bought; 
And then with brothers' blood 

In unity was wrought. 
The little town was courageous, 
Always doing more than her 
share; — 
Nathan Hale and lesser heroes 
Firmly stood forth to do and 
to dare. 

Heroes of peace are not want- 
ing— 
Justice Hoot and Lorenzo 
Dow, 
Many men of uprightness and 
honor, 
The pride of the town, then 
and now. 

Ami to-day, as we look o'er 
that village, 
Named for the one 'cross the 
sea, 
1 1 mtiiis to extend hearty wel- 
come 
To you, from old t Jovenl ry. 



40 




TOWN OFFICERS, 1912. 

(1) John H. Reynolds, First Selectman; (2) Arthur B. Porter, Select- 
man; (3) George Rosebrooks, Selectman; (4) Perkins L. Lathrop, Repre- 
sentative; (5) J. Montgomery White, Representative; (6) John S. Champlin, 
Town Clerk and Treasurer; (7) George H. Robertson, Judge of Probate. 

41 




OFFICIALS K'»K TIIK TOWN* I'ult OLD IHUIK WEEK. 

(1) Dr. William L. Higgins, 1'resident; (2) Addison Kingsbury, Treas- 
urer; (3) Charles W. Lee, Vice-president; (4) Curtis Lean, Secretary and 
Historian; (5) Miss Ruth A Higgins, Poetess, 



42 




CHAIRMEN OF COMMITTEES FOR COVENTRY'S BICENTENNIAL. 

(1) Henry F. Parker, Hospitality Committee; (2) John M. Wood, Decor- 
ating Committee; (3) De Witt Kingsbury, Finance Committee; (4) Mrs. 
Thomas H. Wood, Relics Committee; (5) Ernest H. Woodworth, Parade 
Committee. 



43 



OFFICIAL PROGRAM 

FOR OLD HOME WEEK 
Sunday, August 25th 

Order of Exercises, First Congregational Church, South 
Coventry, Conn. 

10.45 a.m.: Organ Voluntary. 
Doxology. 

Invocation, Rev. D. F. Dodd. 

Hymn 248, "0 God Our Help in Ages Past." 

Responsive Reading. 

Solo, R. A. Stores. 

Scripture Lesson, Luke XIT, 22-40, Rev. II. M. 

Bartlett. 
Prayer. 
Offering. 
Anthem. 
Sermon, Psalms LXXVII 10-12, "Life in the Old 

Church," Rev. Nestor Light. 
Prayer, Rev. II. M. Bartlett. 
1 1 \ hi ii L019, **<) Where Are Kings and Empires 

Now?" 
Benediction. 

7.30 p.m.: Service of Worship and Song. 
Soloist, W. A. Tucker. 
Scripture Lesson, Isaiah LI, 1-6. 

8.00 p.m.: "Congregationalism in Connecticut," illustrated by 
numerous stereopticon pictures of persons, places, 
churches and historic landmarks, Rev. Sherrod 

Sou u:. Superintendent of Missions for Connecti- 
cut. 

Monday, August 26th 

North Coventry Congregational Church. 

8.00p.m.: A Cantata. "The Haymakers," by local talent; 
Ch lrles W. Lee, I director. 

44 



Tuesday, August 27th 

Bi-Centennial Celebration oe First Congregational Church, 
South Coventry, Conn. 

9.00 a. m. : Devotional Services, led by Kev. George W. 
Christie. 

9.30 a. m. : Roll Call of the Church. 

Letters from absent members. 
Letters from former pastors. 

11.00 a. u. : "The First Hundred Years," Rev. Nestor Light. 

12.00 m. : Luncheon by the Ladies of the Church. 

2.00 p. m. : Devotional Services, led by Rev. D. F. Dodd. 

2.15 p. m. : Historical Papers : 

The Meeting Houses, William J. Wilson, Jr. 

The Y. P. S. C. E., Miss Hannah B. Potter. 

The Sunday School, Miss Gertrude MacFar- 

LAND. 

The Work of the Women of the Church, Miss 
Ruth A. Higgins. 

3.15 p. m. : Bi-Centennial Poem, Forrest Morgan. 

3.45 p. m. : "The Second Hundred Years,*' Rev. Nestor Light. 

7.00 p.m.: Devotional Services, led by Rev. H. \L. Bartlett. 

7.15 p. m.: Addresses: Rev. 1). F. Dodd representing the M. E. 
Church, South Coventry; Rev. H. M. Bartlett 
representing the Second Congregational Church, 
North Coventry; Rev. John J. Lockett repre- 
senting the Congregational Church, Andover. 

8.00 p. m. : Address, Rev. Asiier Anderson, D. D., Secretary 
National Council of Congregational Churches. 
45 



Tuesday, August 27th — Continued 

Committees in Charge of Church Celebration. 

Committee of Arrangements. 

Eev. Nestor Light Wm. L. Higgins, M. D. 

How Addison Kingsbury Curtis Dean, Esq. 

Finance Committee. 

Mr. Louis A. Kingsbury Mr. John M. Wood 

Mr. Royal H. Rose 

Relics Committee. 

Mr. De Witt Kingsbury Miss Hattie Albro 

Mrs. Van R. Bennett 

Decoration Committee 
The Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor 

Entertainment Committee of the Ladies' Association. 

Mrs. Wm. F. Wood Mrs. Marvin P. Coleman 

Mrs. Albert E. Harmon Mrs. Wm. L. Higgins 

Mrs. Wm. C. Latimer Mrs. Theron E. Dunham 

Wednesday, August 28th 

Exercises at North Coventry. 

10.00 a.m.: Music, Hebron Fife and Drum Corps. 

in. .in \. m. : Invocation, Rev. II. R. Hoisington. 
Music. 

Address of Welcome, Rev. II. M. Bartlett. 
Music 

Historical Address, Rev. Leon II. Austin. 
Music 

I".' ".' p.m.: Lunch ami Social Hour, with music by Fife and 
1 hum Corps. 

2.00 p. m. : Short speeches ami toasts by residents of the town ami 
visiting friends. Charles W. Lee, Toastmaster. 

4G 



Thursday, August 29th 

Town Historical Exekcises at South Coventry. 

9.00 a. m. : Music, Hebron Fife and Drum Corps. 

10.00 a. m. : Invocation, Rev. Leon H. Austin. 
Music. 
Address of Welcome by the Chairman, Dr. William 

L. Higgins. 
Music. 
Reading of letter from His Excellency, Governor 

Simeon E. Baldwin. 
Greetings from the State, by His Honor, Lieut.- 

Governor D. L. Blakeslee. 
Greetings from Coventry, England, letter from 

Mayor W. F. Wyley. 
Greetings from Yale University. 
Address by Prof. Edward Everett Hale, Jr., of 

Union College, Schenectady, N. Y., and Judge 

Carl Foster, of Bridgeport. 

12-2 P. m. : Social hour, with music by Fife and Drum Corps. 
2.00 p. m. : Historical Address, Curtis Dean. 

Original Poem, Miss Rutpi A. Higgins. 

Weber Quartette. 

History of the Manufacturing Interests of Coventry, 

Hon. Addison Kingsbury. 
Short sketches of some of the old residents of the 
town, Henry F. Parker. 

Addresses from citizens of the town and from 

visitors. 
Singing, "America," led by the Town Choir. 

8.00 p.m.: Cantata, "The Haymakers," by local talent in the 
First Congregational Church; Charles W. Lee, 
Director. 

Friday, August 30th 

9.00 a.m.: Music by the Baltic Brass Band, the Hebron Fife 
and Drum Corps, and the Nathan Hale Fife and 
Drum Corps. 

11.00 a.m.: Parade. 
2.00 P. m. : Ball game and sports of various kinds. 
8.00 p. m. : Fireworks. 

47 



Saturday, August 31st 



Famii/s Reunions, Picnics, a.nd Visits to Historic Places. 

For the convenience of the visitor some of the places of historic 
interest are listed below : 



Nathan Hale Cemetery: Nathan 
Hale Monument. 

Site of old grist mill, and old mill- 
stone. 

Site of First Congregational Church. 

Site of the old Academy. 

Old training ground. 

Old Methodist Church, later Cath- 
olic Church. 

Royal Manning Tavern. 

Manning Store. 

Perkins Rose's Store. 

Old Brick Schoolhouse. 

Site of Samuel Burchard's house, 
probably the first house. 

Former home of Rev. Chauncey 
Booth. 



Lorenzo Dow's birthplace. 

Pomeroy Tavern. 

Mason's Cotton Mill. 

John Boynton's Machine Shop. 

Old Foundry. 

Old Cotton Mill. 

Site of the Strong homestead, prob- 
able birthplace of Nathan Hale's 
mother. 

Jesse Root's house. 

Jeremiah Ripley's house. 

Old Toll Gate. 

Hale Homestead. 

Offspring of Charter Oak. 

Harlan Page house. 

Crowley house, where first Catholic 
services were held. 

Old tavern near Mansfield Depot, 
where Washington once stopped. 



Collections of material of historic interest will be on exhibition 
in the basemenl of the Methodist Church in South Corentry and 
in the Chapel at North Coventry. 



""- ■ • ' .Mftiy ' . ■ Vi y,v^ ! WW». 







The oldest male inhabitant, Mr. 
Henry Case, born March 20, 
1823, and so 89 years old. 



The oldest female inhabitant, Mrs. 
Fanny Brewster, born March 
20, 1819, and so 93 years old. 



is 



OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES TO ARRANGE PLANS 

FOR "OLD HOME WEEK" IN COVENTRY, 

AUGUST 25th TO 31st, 1912 

Officers and Executive Committee 

President, William L. Higgins 
Vice-president, Chakles W. Lee 
Secretary, Curtis Dean 
Treasurer, Addison Kingsbury 

Program Committee 

John H. Reynolds, Chairman Charles R. Hall 

Louis A. Kingsbury Mrs. John M. Wood 

Mrs. S. Noble Loomis 

Music Committee 

Charles W. Lee, Chairman Mrs. Wm. H. Armstrong 

Mrs. Lucy Haven Joiix M. Wood 

Duncan F. Dodd 

Parade Committee 

Ernest H. Wood worth, Chairman Gilbert Storrs 
Henry C Walker Louis M. Phillips 

William A. Wolfe 

Placarding Committee 

Henry F. Parker, Chairman John S. Champlin 

Arthur B. Porter Patrick O'Brien 

John E. Kingsbury 

Hospitality Committee 

Henry F. Parker, Chairman Mrs. Frank J. Tracy 

Mrs. Louis A. Kingsbury Mrs. Edwin S. LeDoyt 

Mrs. Wm. B. Hawkins Mrs. August Hillman 

Alexander H. Pomeroy Mrs. Wm. F. Wood 

Mrs. Wm. A. Tracy Miss Edna Newell 

Mrs. Charles R. Hall Mrs. Benj. Taylor 

Decorating Committee 

John M. Wood, Chairman Brigham 0. Spaulding 

[saac P. Fiske William L. Wellwood 

William H. Armstrong 

49 



Relics Committee 

Mrs. Thomas H. Wood, Chairman Miss Haiti k Albko 
Mrs. Van R. Bennett Mrs. E. S. Slater 

Mrs. Oliver C. Hall 

Amusement Committee 

George H. Robertson, Chairman John P. (Jurley 

Walter S. Haven M \htin H. Clark 

Everett Lathrop 

Historian 
Curtis Dean 

l'oetess 
Miss Ruth A. Higgins 



Finance Committee 



DeWitt Kingsbury, Chairman 
Miss Grace Bradbury 
George L. Rosebrooks 
Mrs. George D. Swift 
Jeremiah Young 
Mrs. Wm. A. Wright 
Frederick J. Snyder 
Miss Julia White 
Mrs. George H. Robertson 
Miss Helen Pottki; 



Oliver C. Hall 
Miss Mary Chase 
w \ i. lace mcknight 
Miss Waity Brown 
Frank 1ST. Turner 
Mrs. John N.Wallbridge 
Perkins L. Lathrop 
H. Bertram Pomeroy 
William F. Pitkin 
Mrs. Robert Pitkin 



50 



